Multifilm Packaging adds electric-vehicle chargers

The flexible packaging converter in Elgin, Ill., recently installed two electric vehicle charging stations in its parking lot. The 240 volt level 2 stations are compatible with any hybrid car sold in North America and open to any Multifilm employee or guest.

Drivers won't have to pay to use the station, but each charge will cost the company 90 cents.

The charging stations give employees an incentive to buy electric vehicles, which use less energy and produce less carbon emissions than traditional gas powered ones. And with an average commute of 40 miles, Multifilm employees could save more than $1,500 per year, according to a company news release.

At least two company executives are already taking advantage of the charging stations. Marcus Magnusson, director of sales and marketing, and Ida Mannertorp, marketing and sustainability coordinator, both drive Chevrolet Volts.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, drivers who buy or lease plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, like the Volt, are eligible for federal tax credits (up to $7,500 for a 2011-13 Volt).

Illinois residents are also eligible for state tax credits. That makes hybrid cars "truly accessible for anyone who wants to make a positive environmental impact," Mannertorp said in the release.

A new 2013 Chevy Volt has a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $39,145 before any tax savings.

There are about 5,548 public electric charging stations in the U.S., and 211 in Illinois, not including private stations at homes or businesses, according to the Department of Energy.

The charging stations aren't Multifilm's first foray into conservation. The company converted to a new geothermal heating and cooling system in 2010 to lower energy consumption and costs.

In 2012, Multifilm completed its "zero-waste to landfill" goal – scrap plastic is used in injection molding operations and non-recyclable scrap goes to a waste-to-energy facility. The company also acquired a reprocessing extruder for clear scrap.